Charlton 'burglar in tree' appears in court

A man appeared in court today (August 15) after a 17-hour stand-off at a Charlton tree caused train chaos earlier this week and allegedly cost the railway nearly £500,000.

Southeastern trains were disrupted across the area on Wednesday (August 13) after police responding to reports of a burglary at Curry's in Stone Lake Retail Park found the man up in the branches in Barney Close near Charlton station.

The resulting stand-off, which began at around 2am, did not end until 7pm that night.

Bexley Magistrates' Court heard the estimated cost of disruption to the railway, caused because the tree was so close to railway lines, was more than £490,000.

Carlton Andre, 36, of no fixed abode, has been charged with burglary, obstructing police, criminal damage and obstructing the railway.

He also faced charges of driving a motor vehicle without the owners consent, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance.

Andre offered no pleas. He was remanded in custody to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on August 29.